Hisluiy of Alchymy. 



227 



probably not later than the seventh century. His three books 

 of alchymy were published at Strasburgh in 1520, and if 

 genuine, of which there is much doubt, contain matter that well 

 justifies the eloge of Boerhaave, who considers him as a first- 

 rate philosopher of his age. In his chapter " on the Alchemic 

 •of Sol," after descanting upon the different means of refining 

 and dissolving gold, he describes several solar medicines in 

 language which is tolerably intelligible ; they are all solutions 

 of gold in nitro-rauriatic acid, with the addition of quicksilver, 

 nitre, common salt, and some other saline matters, and the 

 student is directed to prepare his mind for their performance 

 by suitable acts of piety and charity, which if earnestly and per- 

 severingly carried on, may, after due time, enable bim, in the 

 language of his translator, Dr. Salmon, " to change argent 

 vive into an infinite solific and lunific, without the help of any 

 thing more than its multiplication." Alembics, crucibles, and 

 various furnaces are so fully described, and if we may believe 

 the MSS. depicted by Geber, that he deserves to be mentioned 

 also as the inventor of much useful apparatus. 



Artephius in 1130 published several alchymistical tracts ; 

 we are told by Roger Bacon and others, t.ha,t he died at the 

 advanced age of 1025, having prolonged his life by the 

 miraculous virtues of his medicines ; but his name, and that of 

 John de Rupescissa, are now deservedly buried in oblivion. 



The alchymical annals of the thirteenth century are adorned 

 by the name of Rogek Bacon, a native of llchester, in Somer- 

 setshire, and descended from an ancient and honourable family- 

 In 1240, he returned from Paris, and became celebrated amongf 

 the learned of the University of Oxford. At that time, however, 

 the exposition of ignorance, and attempts to overthrow the 

 dogmas of the schools, was a service of risk and danger ; and 

 to this Friar Bacon, for he was a monk of the Franciscan order, 

 laid himself fully open ; he was accused of practising witchcraft, 

 thrown into prison, and nearly starved, for exposing the pre- 

 valent immorality of the clergy ; and, according to some, stood 

 a chance of being burned as a magician. 



I know ©f no work that strikes one with more surprise and 

 P2 



